Rigging hoist



A ril 17, 1962 H. c. STEVENS 3,

RIGGINGHOIST Filed Dec. 12, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Kw; aw %ai:

A TTORNE 'S April 17, 1962 Filed Dec. 12, 1960 H. c. STEVENS 3,030,076

RIGGING HOIST 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

fi oa/oro C 8/606/76 ATT( QNEYS April 17, 1962 H. c. STEVENS RIGGING I-IOIST 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. flea/0W0 6. \9/8V9/75 Filed Dec.

A TTORNE YS I 3,030,076 RIGGlNG HOIST Howard C. Stevens, Muskegon, Mich, assignor to Manning, Maxwell & Moore, incorporated, Muskegon, Mich, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 12, 19360, Ser- No. 75,332 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 254-169) This invention relates to improvements in a rigging hoist, and more particularly to a large capacity, small size, hand operated chain block highly desirable for use in confined spaces such as are frequently encountered in ship yard Work, although the invention will have other uses and purposes in other locations as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

in the past, many and various types of rigging hoists and the like have been developed but have proven decidedly objectionable for use in very confined spaces such as in the hold of a ship, for example, owing to the limited location of the operator by virtue of the fixed mounting of the hand wheel cover and guide, whereby the hoist could not be operated from any desired angular position relative to the rotary axis of the hand wheel. These formerly known hoists also proved objectionable in many cases in that they were undesirably heavy and bulky and did not provide a sufficiently high load capacity in comparison with their size and weight. Further, hoists of this character heretofore developed lacked versatility in that they could not be mounted, particularly in confined spaces, to pull in any desired direction. It might further be mentioned that formerly known hoists of this character were also objectionably expensive, difi'icult to assemble, and required the use of specially made and machined parts particularly if the upper hook and load block or book were provided with a yoke or pivoting arrangement, and in many cases despite their construction lacked desired universality of safe attachment to any kind of load.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a hand operated rigging hoist with which operation of the hand chain is possible from any position in a complete circle around the hand chain wheel, allowing operation of the hoist from a position directly below the hoist body, directly above the hoist body, or in any intermediate location.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a hand operated rigging hoist embodying an outboard mounting of the hand wheel with the hand wheel cover and guide freely rotatable at the will of the operator so that the hoist may be operated from any desired angular position relatively to the rotary axis of the hand wheel.

Another feature of the instant invention resides in the provision of a compact and lightweight rigging hoist using a single chain and having a load capacity heretofore requiring the use of multiple chains.

A further desideratum of this invention is the provision of a small and powerful rigging hoist operable in extremely confined spaces and which may be readily mounted to pull in any direction, that is the hoist may be mounted in upright position, horizontally, upside down, or to pull at any intermediate angle.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a compact and powerful rigging hoist having a load hook assembly affording substantially universal movement for the hook, and so constructed that without the use of any special forgings, castings or machine 'parts, the load hook assembly may be connected safely to a small size alloy heat-treated chain of great capacity.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a compact high capacity rigging hoist operable from any angular position relatively to the rotary axis of the hand wheel, and which is provided with an 3,3,h7 Patented Apr. 17, 1952 upper hook assembly allowing great freedom of application of the hook to any structure or rigging arrangement that may be desired.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

. FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a rigging hoist embodying principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line II-11 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing parts in elevation;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, part sectional, part elevational view of the lower block or load hook assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating one of the positions in which the hoist may be operated;

FIGURE 5 is a similar diagrammatic view illustrating another position from which the hoist may be operated; and

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view showing that the hoist may be operated from directly above both the hoist and the load.

As shown on the drawings:

Since many of the internal parts of the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention form no actual part of the invention, they will not be described in detail herein, it being presumed that adequate bosses and other supports, suitable bearings, etc., are provided wherever the same may be deemed necessary for smooth operation.

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention embodies a casing or housing 1 of any suitable structure, closed at one end as indicated at 2, and which contains the major portion of the working mechanism of the hoist. Substantially centrally of the hoist structure a rotary load chain sprocket 3 is positioned around which a load chain 4 is trained for actuation by the sprocket. The drive transmission for the sprocket includes an internal gear 5 splined to the sprocket and a plurality of stepped planet gears 6 engage both the internal gear 5 and the stationary internal gear 7, the stepped planet gears 6 being driven by a pinion 8 on the end of a load brake shaft 9 extending freely through the center bore of the sprocket 3, to forma differential planetary gearing system. The planet gears 6 are held in a planet carrier 10 which is allowed to rotate concentrically with respect to the internal gears 5 and 7. It will be understood that this particular gearing arrangement is not essential to the instant invention but other gearing arrangements might equally as well be utilized.

Near the other end of the load brake shaft 9 suitable braking means are provided which include as a center member a ratchet wheel 11 engageable by a pawl 12, and a load brake nut 13 secured to the shaft 9 to cause rotation of the same. These parts with others form a Weston type load brake assembly, which is more fully disclosed and described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,739,789 issued March 27, 1956.

In hoists of this general type as heretofore constructed, the hand wheelwould be mounted on the hub portion of the nut 13. But in the case of the instant invention, a tubular extension 14 is disposed on the hub portion of the nut 13 and a hand wheel 15 is connected to the outer end of this extension by a series of bolts 16 which extend entirely through the extension and engage the flange portion of the nut 13. The hand wheel is actuated in a known manner by a hand chain 17 to operate the hoist by way of rotation of the extension 14, the nut 13, and the brake shaft 9. Also, in the instance of the present invention, the open end of the casing 1 is closed by a load brake compartment cover 18 bolted to the casing as indicated at 19. This cover is, of course, provided with an aperture through which the extension 14 projects and between the extension and the cover a needle roller bearing assembly 29 is provided to reduce friction at this point. Thus, what may be conveniently termed an outboard mounting of the hand Wheel is provided.

The hand 'wheel' cover and guide assembly is preferably made in halves, and comprises an inner member 21 having a hub portion 22 for free rotation around a reduced end of the extension 14, and an outer member 23 bolted to the inner member at suitable intervals 'as indicated at 24. The outer member is provided with an inwardly extending hub portion 25 lined with a bushing 26 to permit relative rotation between this member and the brake shaft 9. Of course, the hand wheel cover and guide assembly is open at the bottom, as is usual, to permit free manipulation of the hand chain.

The great advantage of the outboard mounting of the hand wheel with the cover and guide assembly as above described resides in the fact that the cover and guide assembly may be freely rotated relatively to all other parts of the structure whenever the operator so desires by merely manipulating the hand chain to cause the cover assembly to rotate. This permits operation of the hoist from any angle throughout a complete circle in the plane of the hand wheel. Thus, the operator may position himself wherever deemed most feasible and the hoist may be located in extremely restricted or confined environments.

Another feature of the instant invention facilitating use of the hoist in confined locations and permitting great freedom in anchoring the hoist to substantially any desirable structure or rigging and in substantially any desired position, centers itself in the upper hook assembly. An upper hook 27 has a shank portion 28 both threaded into and welded to the cross leg of a clevis 29. The legs of the clevis 29 straddle the head of an eyebolt 30 the leg of which extends freely through an opening in the top of the casing 1. The casing is shouldered inside at the base of the opening as indicated at 31 and the bolt 30 is held in place by means of a nut 32 threaded on and welded to the lower end of the bolt. Between the nut and the shoulder 31 a thrust washer 33 is provided so that the eye-bolt may rotate relatively to the casing 1 under load. The clevis 29 is connected to the eye-bolt by means of a transverse bolt 34 extending through the legs of the clevis and the head of the eye-bolt and held in position by a lock nut 35, and this which adds to the lifting capacity of the hoist, the economy of construction, and provides universality of attachment to a load is embodied in the lower block or load hook assembly, best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. This assembly includes a pair of opposed side plates 36 and 37 connected at the lower ends by means of a crosshead 38 having flattened upper and lower surfaces between the side plates. This crosshead has a smooth circular portion 39 of reduced diameter extending through each said plate, and the projecting ends 40-40 of the crosshead are each threaded to accommodate self-locking nut 41. These nuts are not tightened fully against the side plates 36 and 37 but the connection is left slightly loose to permit free rotation of the crosshead relatively to the side plates 36 and 37.

A load hook 42 depends from the crosshead 38 and is provided with a shank 43 which extends through the crosshead. Where the shank passes through the crosshead it is smooth to permit free relative rotation between the hook and crosshead, and beyond the crosshead the shank is threaded to accommodate a nut 44 which is also welded to the hook shank, and to provide for such rotation under load, a thrust washer 44a is disposed between thenut and crosshead.

Through suitable apertures in the upper portions of the side plates 36 and 37 a headed pin 45 extends and is held in place by a lock nut 46. As seen best in FIG- URE 3, this pin 45 extends through and forms an anchor for the lower link of the load chain 4. The pin 45 also extends through a pair of suitably apertured bosses 47 and 48 securely welded to the side plates 36 and 37 respectively. Sufficient space is allowed between these bosses for free pivotal movement of the lower link of the load chain. This arrangement provides adequate rigidity to the assembly and also permits the use of a round pin 4-5 for connection to the load chain. The side plates and bosses, in effect, shorten the length of the pin and thereby reduce the bending moment exerted by the chain on the pin to a minimum.

This construction, wherein the end portions of the pin are rigidly and firmly held in the lower block assembly, leaving only a short center portion of the pin exposed for engagement by the lower link of the load chain aifords a decided advantage. It permits the use of an economical round pin with an alloy heat-treated chain of relatively small size but considerable strength, whereas heretofore with such a load chain it was necessary to utilize a specially made pin having an oval cross-section and then position that pin with the long axis of the oval disposed in the direction of pull. The instant construction is far less expensive, and requires less labor to assemble. By way of example and not by way of limitation, it may be said that a pin of about 40-45 Rockwell C hardness having some ductility is satisfactory, and a load chain of 4615 steel carburized and heat treated is satisfactory With such structure it is only necessary for the hoist to embody a single load chain rather than multiple chains for loads up to 4 tons.

Further, it should be noted that with the substantially universal movement of the load hook 42 it may readily be used around an object or over another chain without producing bending in the shank of the hook or excessive side stress on the chain or chain connection, there being great universality of attachment to substantially any form of load.

In operation, the present invention is extremely simple. The upper hook may be readily attached to rigging or other anchor means in any desired position. The load hook, as explained above, may readily and safely be engaged with substantially any form of load. The hoist may be positioned to pull in any desired direction. The hoist may be operated by way of the hand chain 17 from any desired angle. In FIGURE 4 I have illustrated the hoist in position for operation from an angle of approximately 45 to the vertical. In FIGURE 5 the angle is on the opposite side of the vertical. In FIGURE 6 I have illustrated the hoist being operated from a position directly over the hoist. When any desired position of operation is assumed by the operator, the hand wheel cover and guide immediately rotates relatively to the remainder of the hoist and assumes the proper position to guide the chain from that angle of operation. This versatility permits the hoist to be mounted or anchored in extremely confined and restricted locations. It will further be noted that the hoist is extremely compact and light in weight in comparison with is pulling capacity, is highly durable, utilizes but a single load chain, and may be economically manufactured.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a hand operated rigging hoist, a casing open at one end, hoisting mechanism in said casing including a shaft extending through the open end of said casing and a brake nut drivingly connected to said shaft, a tubular extension secured to said brake nut, a closure for said open casing end around said extension, bearing means between said extension and said closure, at hand wheel secured to said extension, a chain to operate said hand wheel, and a cover and guide assembly for said hand wheel connected to sm'd shaft and said extension outside said closure for rotary movement relatively thereto about the axis of the hand wheel, whereby said hand chain may be operated at any angle to the rotary axis of said shaft.

2. 'In a hand operated rigging hoist, a casing open at one end, hoisting mechanism in said casing including a shaft extending through the open end of said casing and a brake nut drivingly connected to said shaft, a tubular extension secured to said brake nut, a closure for said open casing end around said extension, bearing means between said extension and said closure, a hand wheel secured to said extension, a chain to operate said hand wheel, and a cover and guide assembly for said hand wheel connected to said shaft and said extension outside said closure for rotary movement relatively thereto about the axis of the hand wheel, whereby said hand chain may be operated at any angle to the rotary axis of said shaft, a single load chain connected to said hoisting mechanism and extending outside said casing, a block on the outer end of said chain, a load hook connected to said block for both pivotal and rotary movement relatively thereto, and an anchoring hook connected to said casing for both pivotal and rotary movement relatively thereto.

3. In a hand operated rigging hoist, a casing, hoisting mechanism in said casing with a portion thereof projecting without the casing, a hand wheel drivingly connected to the projecting portion of said mechanism, a chain to actuate said hand wheel, and a cover and guide assembly for said hand wheel and mounted for free and complete rotation relatively to the hand wheel about the axis of the hand wheel.

4. In a hand operated rigging hoist, a casing, hoisting mechanism in said casing with a portion thereof projecting without the casing, a hand wheel drivingly connected to the projecting portion of said mechanism, a chain to actuate said hand wheel, and a cover and guide assembly partially enclosing said hand wheel and mounted on the projecting portion of said mechanism for free and complete rotation relatively thereto about the axis of the hand wheel.

5. In a hand operated rigging hoist, a casing, hoisting mechanism in said casing with a portion thereof projecting without the casing, a hand wheel drivingly connected to the projecting portion of said mechanism, a chain to actuate said hand wheel, and a cover and guide assembly for said hand wheel and mounted for free rotary movement relatively to the hand wheel at least in either direction about the axis of the hand wheel.

6. In a hand operated rigging hoist, a casing, hoisting mechanism in said casing, a hand wheel mounted out board of said casing to actuate said mechanism, a chain to actuate said hand wheel, and a chain guide partially embracing said hand wheel and mounted for free rotary movement relatively thereto for at least 180 in either direction about the axis of the hand wheel.

7. In a hand operated rigging hoist, a casing, hoisting mechanism in said casing, a hand wheel mounted outboard of said casing to actuate said mechanism, a chain to actuate said hand wheel, and a chain guide partially embracing said hand wheel and mounted for free rotary movement relatively thereto for at least a partial revolution in either direction about the axis of the hand wheel.

8. In a hand operated rigging hoist, a casing having a closure at each end thereof, hoisting mechanism in said casing including a shaft projecting through the closure at one end of said casing, a hand wheel drivingly connected to the projecting portion of said shaft, a cover and chain guide for said hand wheel mounted for complete rotation relatively thereto about the axis of the hand wheel, and a chain to actuate said hand wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 31,077 Doyle Ian. 8, 1861 2,373,048 Parker et a1. Apr. 3, 1945 2,403,462 Schroeder July 9, 1946 2,734,717 Campbell Feb. 14, 1956 

